LOWELL -- About 20 protesters took to the sidewalk outside U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's campaign rally at the Blue Shamrock Friday night to voice their concerns over Lynch's votes in Congress in support of the Keystone oil pipeline.

Ben Wessel, who works for 350.org, a global grass-roots organization that promotes awareness about climate change, said he was protesting to encourage Lynch, a South Boston Democrat, and other legislators to vote against the pipeline and to take votes to protect the climate.

"We're nervous about our climate future," said Wessel, of Boston.

He said the special election for former Sen. John Kerry's seat is now a front-line for climate change.

Lynch's Democratic opponent in the race, U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, of Malden, voted against the Keystone pipeline.

The Keystone oil pipeline, which would connect Canada's oil sands to refineries around Houston and the Gulf of Mexico, is awaiting final approval from President Barack Obama.

Lynch greeted the protesters, who were holding a pseudo-pipeline with the words "No Keystone XL" and signs that said, "Lynch loves dirty oil," when he arrived at the rally.

He invited them to sit down and talk to him about their concerns at his office.

"My decision is not absolutely final on this," he said. "I'd like to hear you make the case."

He said if the president and Kerry decided the pipeline project shouldn't go forward, he would support their decision.

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"You have a valid viewpoint, a valid argument. I share some of your concerns and let's talk," Lynch told the protesters.

He also pointed out his voting record on environmental issues is the same as Markey's.

Lynch was attacked this week by a group of clean-energy activists and California philanthropist and billionaire Tom Steyer, who threatened that if Lynch doesn't oppose the pipeline, they would form a super PAC to target him.

They gave Lynch a deadline of "high noon" Friday to make a decision.

Lynch responded with a column that ran in The Boston Globe Friday saying he won't be "shoved" by special interests.

Jay Mason, of Lowell, who was part of the protest, said it wasn't political for him.

"I want to make sure whoever will occupy that seat, knows who we are," he said.

Eric Fisher, who owns a small farm in Groton, said since the early 1980's, he's noticed the delay in the frost arriving each year. It used to come in mid-September and now it doesn't arrive until early October.

"We know Ed Markey has been a climate champion in the House," he said. "We're working our tails off to get him elected."

Environmentalists oppose the Keystone project because it would carry oil derived from tar sands, in a process that is dirtier than other forms of oil production and that releases more carbon dioxide. Supporters say it will create jobs and gives the U.S. a new source of energy, relying less on imports.

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